Page 214 of Gathered Sparkle

A beat of silence fills the static before Alaric answers. “Because chances are, we’re not making it to that damn jet, and I’m not leaving her behind.”

I sigh dramatically, putting on a mock drawl for good measure as I reply, “You really gotta work on yourrattitude,Ric. Ofcourse,we’re gonna make it.”

“Rattitude?”Nova asks.

“Yeah, like attitude, but for rats and other small critters. Like your bossy-ass cat.”

Jinx meows again, loud and annoyed. I toe the crate slightly. “Easy, girl. I’m not the enemy here. Your daddy put you in that box.”

Alaric grumbles something under his breath that sounds suspiciously likeidiot.

“Can we please focus and shut up?” Nova asks, panting slightly. “I’m going in.”

There’s a rustle of static and then Alaric’s low voice. “Already in.”

“Be safe,” I mutter, my attention locked on the screens in front of me again while I tweak the drone angles, pulling back enough to capture more of the audience.

Jinx meows again, and I shush her.

It takes fucking concentration to keep this running smoothly. The illusions, the lights, the timing, it’s all riding on me. But that’s not even the hardest part of tonight. Nope. That one’s still to come when Koen has to fly that damn car from rooftop to rooftop.

I fucking hope we all come out of this shit alive. If we don’t, I swear I’ll riot. I hate how goddamn risky this plan is, but if we’re going to bring Veronica down and put ourselves in the line of fire, we’ll damn well do it in style.

Koen’s voice comes through the speakers, pulling me back to the moment. “I will pick a few people out of the audience for a little hypnotization. What do you say?”

The crowd erupts in cheers, their energy noticeable even from where I’m sitting, secluded in the van.

“Since this show is also for you, Veronica.” Koen steps even closer to her. “Let’s make it personal. I’ll read some names right out of your mind. Look around and find some people you know. That’ll make it more exciting, don’t you think?”

The crowd cheers, obviously liking that idea, but my focus stays locked on Veronica. For the briefest moment, her polished mask slips. She catches herself quickly, her poker face sliding back into place as she tilts her head slightly, giving Koen a pointed look. “I told you, Koen, I’m not interested in being hypnotized.”

“And you won’t be,” he assures her. “All I need is a little touch, just my fingertip on your forehead, and I’ll pluck the names right out of your head. May I?”

He lifts his hand slightly like he’s already weaving a spell. The tension in the air thickens as Veronica hesitates. Then, her gaze shifts briefly to Levi, standing behind her.

I’ve been constantly muting the twin who isn’t talking to the audience so I know the microphone won’t catch it, but we all hear it over the earpiece when Levi leans in and whispers. “Come on, this will be fun. You know we wouldn’t do anything that could harm you.”

Her shoulders slightly relax before she nods, probably knowing that saying no would make her look bad in front of half of Las Vegas. “Fine.”

“All right, folks!” Levi’s voice rings out, playful and commanding all at once. “If Koen calls your name, don’t make us chase you. Come right up to the stage, no hiding! We have cameras everywhere. We know where you are.”

I sit back, my fingers adjusting the joystick to make the drone glide lower, skimming just above the audience’s heads. They duck and laugh, the perfect distraction to take the edge off Levi’s words.

But make no mistake—itwasa warning.

I’ve already clocked all three of the bastards we need, and I was fucking relieved to see them here. The text I sent this morning as Veronica was curt and to the point.

There is a show tonight in front of the Heights. I need you there.

It was her style, but who knew if they were really the lapdogs we made them out to be? For all we knew, they could’ve cut the leash.

But here they are.

Loyal to the end, or maybe too afraid to be anywhere else.

Koen steps closer to Veronica and places his finger on her forehead, his other hand outstretched toward the audience as if drawing invisible threads from the air.

Veronica is still smiling, but there’s a stiffness to her posture, her shoulders drawn back a little too tightly.

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